Alzheimer Related News Items

News as of 12/05/99
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Top Items
Alzheimer's Vaccine Is Showing Promise - By the end of 1999, scientists plan to begin injecting a small group of U.S. volunteers with a vaccine against AD, the most dreaded age- related malady. An AD vaccine? It's not as far-fetched as it might sound. Experts around the world were impressed last summer when researchers at a San Francisco biotech company published evidence that a vaccine prevented AD-like deposits in the brains of mice genetically prone to get them. Not only that, but the vaccine cleared most such plaques from the brains of mice injected late in life. That raises the tantalizing possibility of a therapeutic vaccine (as opposed to a preventive one) for those who have already started showing the memory loss and other cognitive hallmarks of AD. Other developments include the recent discovery of an elusive enzyme called beta-secretase, thought to be critical in the first biochemical step in the develop-ment of AD. Martin Citron of Amgen says that identifying beta-secretase at last will accelerate the development of precisely targeted drugs to inhibit the enzyme, perhaps blocking AD at the most fundamental level. Dr. Dennis J. Selkoe of Brigham and Women's Hospital said, "I think within five to 10 years we'll be treating patients with drugs that should slow AD in people who have it or prevent it in people who are likely to get it. I don't think that's too optimistic." By Richard A. Knox New York Times Syndicate 10/30/99

Researchers Identify Key Enzyme in AD - Two teams of scientists report the discovery of a key enzyme involved in the formation of amyloid plaques -- a hallmark of AD -- paving theway for the development of new treatments for the disorder. The two articles, published in the December 2nd issue of the journal Nature, follow two other recent reports on the identification of the enzyme in Science and Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. Amyloid plaques are formed when two enzymes cut amyloid precursor protein at two sites, known as the beta and gamma sites. The discovery of these two key enzymes, called beta- and gamma-secretase, "has long been sought, but half of the mystery, at least, is now over," according to the editorialists in Nature. Researchers at Pharmacia and Upjohn, Inc report their identification of a new enzyme, called Asp2, which cleaves amyloid precursor protein at the beta site and can be found throughout the brain. The team also found that by decreasing the levels of Asp2 in brain tissue, they could reduce the generation and accumulation of the protein fragment that leads to the development of amyloid plaques. A second group of researchers at Elan Pharmaceuticals, in San Francisco, California, report they have separately identified the same enzyme. After purifying the new enzyme, they report that it "has all the properties predicted for beta-secretase." The editorialists in Nature comment that the discovery of beta-secretase now paves the way for the development of specific drugs that target the enzyme. Reuters Health 12/1/99 Nature 1999;402:471-472, 533-537, 537-540. http://www.nature.com/server-java/Propub/nature/v402n6761

New Transgenic Mouse Likely to Advance AD Research - A new strain of mice develops, with age, damaging tangles of a normal protein called tau in neurons of the spinal cord, brain stem, and brain. Similar aggregations of the filamentous protein are a key feature in a number of devastating age-related neurological disorders, including AD. In AD, for example, the tau tangles and plaques of another protein called beta amyloid in certain neurons of the brain are regarded as the two signature signs of the disease. The new mouse is expected to enable scientists to make major strides in understanding the role of tau tangles in this important group of neurodegenerative diseases, referred to collectively as tauopathies. "The mouse we have developed is the first true animal model for a family of diseases known as tauopathies, the most well-known of which is AD, says Virginia M.-Y. Lee, PhD, senior author on the study at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. "This mouse isn't, in and of itself, a complete model for AD, but it should help us better to understand the crucial role that tau tangles play in the progression of that disease, as well as a number of other debilitating neurodegenerative diseases." John Q. Trojanowski, a coauthor on the study, said "Tau has not been as highly regarded a player as beta amyloid in the mechanisms of brain degeneration associated with AD. Some of us, however, have long believed that tau may be directly responsible for the death of neurons in that and other tauopathies. With this new strain of mice, we should be able to shed new light in this area." PR 11/23/99 Neuron. November 1999, 24 (3):507-510

Drugs
Study Focuses On Possible Prevention Of AD - A new study, the first of its kind, tests the preventive properties of two promising drugs. It focuses on patients with a form of serious but not incapacitating memory loss that scientists call mild cognitive impairment, or MCI. Millions of older Americans live with this condition, which leaves them with their wits intact but with much less ability to remember events, actions and information for very long. Studies have shown that MCI also increases by tenfold their risk of developing AD. The project, funded by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and a pharmaceutical company, will follow 720 55- to 90-year-old MCI patients for three years. Doctors at the University of Michigan and other research centers will monitor their physical and mental condition as they take either a placebo, vitamin E -- which has shown promise in slowing mild AD -- or donepezil which is sold as Aricept. Those who wish to participate may call 1-888-455-0655 to be screened for inclusion in the study. MCI is trickier to diagnose, but physicians have recently developed a list of criteria: memory complaints, abnormal memory for the patient's age, inability to carry out normal activities of daily life and abnormal cognitive function. For example, an MCI patient will forget important events repeatedly, or not be able to remember as many details of a short paragraph or picture as a person of the same age with normal memory. On the other hand, they will be able to shop, prepare meals and continue their hobbies. UniSci 11/8/99

New Data Demonstrate Activities of Daily Living Are Enhanced in Patients With Mildto Moderately Severe Alzheimer's Disease With Rivastigmine Tartrate - Data presented suggest that rivastigmine tartrate (Exelon®), an investigational, new generation cholinesterase inhibitor, may be effective in enhancing activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients with mild to moderately severe AD. Patients treated with Exelon experienced less decline in ADLs than patients treated with placebo. Approximately 50% more patients on Exelon showed a clinically significant improvement (>10%) from baseline in ADLs compared to those on placebo. The results of this study are extremely important as they suggest that treatment with Exelon may improve quality of life for both patients and caregivers. Moreover, contrary to the current assumption, these results demonstrate that patients with moderate and moderately severe AD are able to respond to cholinergic therapy. Exelon has also shown efficacy in cognition (memory) and global functioning including behavior in phase III clinical trials. The compound is being developed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals and is currently under review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of AD. PR 11/22/99

Estrogen Reduces Aggression in Demented Patients - Estrogen therapy safely reduces aggression among elderly patients who have dementia, according to preliminary study findings from the Harvard Medical School. A month-long study of the hormone in aggressive, demented elderly patients suggests that estrogen may be a good second-line therapy for aggression in these patients, used where other medications have failed. Such behaviors are important to treat because they can have dramatic and pervasive impacts on patient care and well-being. Aggressive patients are often difficult for their caregivers to manage, so they are likely to be institutionalized and often must be moved from unit to unit or from facility to facility. Sedatives or other drugs can reduce aggressive behaviors, but some patients do not respond to them or are unable to tolerate the drugs. The researchers randomly assigned 12 women and 2 men, average age 84, to take either a low to moderate dose of estrogen or a placebo (an inactive pill) for 4 weeks. At the end of the treatment period, the average total aggression score was significantly lower in the estrogen group (2.05) than in the placebo group (4.74), according to the report. The average physical aggression scores were also significantly different, 0.37 and 1.32 for the two groups, respectively. Verbal aggression, sexual aggression, and self-aggression were not significantly improved by estrogen therapy. Side effects did not develop in either group. This was the first scientific study to evaluate the effects of estrogen therapy on aggressive behaviors. The researchers believe that further research may prove estrogen to be useful as an alternative therapy for aggressive behaviors in patients with dementia, or when used in addition to behavioral therapy. Reuthers Health 11/11/99 American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 1999;7:339-348.

Researchers Stimulate Growth in Spinal Cords - An experimental new drug, Inosine, worked to helped severed nerve cells regrow in rats, and might offer promise as a way to treat spinal cord injuries, researchers at Boston Life Sciences, Inc. reported 11/10/99. When infused inosine was infused into the rat brain's motor cortex in almost all of the treated animals, new axons had sprouted and spread to the area that was cut. Inosine, which occurs naturally in the body, is a molecule formed by the breakdown of adenosine, an essential building block of DNA and RNA and an important signaling molecule. The drugs being developed by the company might have other uses, too, said Dr. Marc Lanser, chief scientific officer of Boston Life Sciences. "We believe that these compounds have the potential to treat other acute and chronic degenerative CNS disorders, such as stroke, Parkinson's Disease, and AD. We hope to bring one or more of these exciting molecules into clinical testing late next year," he said. Reuters 11/10/99

Aurora Biosciences Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent For Novel Fluorescent Protease Assay - U.S. Patent Number 5,981,200 (available online from the Patent Office at http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html ) entitled "Tandem Fluorescent Protein Constructs" is one of an extensive family of fluorescent protein related patents exclusively licensed to Aurora. Thepatent is directed towards tandem fluorescent proteins, their recombinant nucleic acids, and methods of using the constructs to measure protease activities, as well as other biological activities. "Proteases represent an important class of proteins that regulate many aspects of a cells growth and function, and have been directly implicated in a large number of disease processes including cancer, HIV, AD and arthritis," said John D. Mendlein of Aurora. PR 11/22/99

Neurochem Inc. Announces Strategic Alliance Targeting AD - Neurochem Inc., a Canadian- based biopharmaceutical company, has signed a research and development agreement in the field of neurological therapeutics with H. Lundbeck A/S, a Danish pharmaceutical company focused on diseases of the central nervous system. Neurochem is actively involved in the discovery, the development and the commercialization of innovative health therapeutics for amyloid-related diseases. The agreement specifically focuses on the development of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of AD. Common to all AD patients are the extensive amyloid deposits and degenerating nerve endings in their brain tissue. Neurochem's lead compound in the area of AD, Alzhemed™ (NC-531). This compound has advanced to Phase I clinical trials in June 1999. PR 11/24/99

$5 Million For Promising AD Drug Research - The National Institute on Aging has awarded $5 million to a group of University of Florida researchers who have developed estrogen- and nicotine-based compounds that are considered promising new drugs for AD. The UF Drug Discovery Group for AD was established in 1989 to find a way to prevent, slow or halt the progression of the disease. The first project focuses on estrogen-related compounds that have been shown to protect brain cells and improve cognition in animal models. The second project involves nicotine-based compounds that have been shown to protect brain cells and improve cognitive function. The third and fourth projects involve methods for delivering genes that have been shown to protect brain cells. One project is delivering genes using the adeno-associated virus, commonly known in scientific circles as AAV. The fourth focuses on a nonviral approach to delivering genes to the brain using fatty particles known as liposomes to transport genetic material to selected sites in the brain. UniSci 11/15/99

FDA OKs Phase II Trial of Gliatech Drug Perceptin - The Food and Drug Administration has granted approval on 11/22/99 for Gliatech Inc. to begin Phase II clinical trials of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) drug Perceptin. The tests will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of different doses of the drug. Perceptin is known as a histamine H3 receptor antagonist. It helps to regulate the sleeping and waking states as well as levels of arousal and alertness while conscious. Possible uses for Perceptin include ADHD, AD-related dementia, and sleep disorders such as narcolepsy. Reuthers 11/22/99

Genes & Genetic Issues
Gene Study On Age Could Shed Light On AD - The discovery of genetic mutations that seem to be the clear result of aging could help scientists understand degenerative diseases such as AD report researchers at the University of Milan 11/8/99. The research could help doctors understand why some patients with Parkinson's disease deteriorate much faster than others and why some Down Syndrome patients go on to develop AD. Their study published 10/22/99 in the Science discovered a series of mutations linked to aging in mitochondrial DNA, which is used by the body to produce the energy needed by cells to perform their various functions. They found certain mutations in virtually all the older samples and in none of the younger samples. In a few cases they had samples taken from the same person over the years and found more mutations as the person grew older. What was particularly surprising was that mutations of the same type appeared in the same place in different volunteers. Mitochondrial DNA codifies a set of proteins which form the essential machinery for producing the ATP which is the currency utilized by the cell to produce energy. ATP is a specific molecule produced when food is oxidized by the body. It is used by cells as the basic fuel or currency to carry out many functions. Though the DNA mutations have not been linked with specific signs of aging or any illness, Professor Scarlato at the University of Milan said the mutations clearly disturbed the normal functioning of the cells. "Having less energy predisposes the cell to suffer more severely the attack by the other agents which determine such illnesses," Scarlato said. "The principal neurological diseases of a degenerative type, such as AD, Parkinson's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are illnesses that generally show up at the pre-senile age, from 55 to 65 years," Scarlato added. "What's been seen in this research is that it is exactly in this period that these mutations of the mitochondrial DNA develop and increase as the person gets older," he said. By Claudia Parsons Reuters 11/8/99

NIH Publishes Draft Guidelines for Stem Cell Research - The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has developed a set of draft guidelines for research involving human stem cells. The guidelines are an effort to ensure that NIH-funded stem cell research is conducted in an ethical and legal manner. The drafted guidelines set specific criteria for research and call for establish-ment of a "Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Review Group," which would document and monitor compliance. The guidelines also specify areas of research that do not qualify for NIH funding, such as cloning of animals and humans. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent, which means that unlike mature cells, they have the capacity to differentiate into the various types of cells that form the human body, like skin, blood vessels, nerves and liver. As a result, they have caused a great deal of excitement in the scientific community. Doctors hope to use this research one day to give people new cells to replace diseased or damaged ones. They hope they can cure and cancer and AD repair injuries to the spinal cord, even offer an unlimited bank of transplantable organs. Researchers also hope that stem cell research will provide them with more information about human development and the causes of disease, and lead to changes in the development and testing of drugs. The draft guidelines were published 12/02/99 in the Federal Register as "Human pluripotent stem cells; research guidelines" 67576-67579 [FR Doc. 99-31339] and will be open for public comment for 60 days, after which the working group that developed them will reconvene. Available online at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=1999_register&docid=99-31339-filed. CNN 12/01/99

Abnormal Stress Response Linked to AD - The increased vulnerability to stress of brain cells in AD results from changes in the level of specific protective proteins, report researchers from Osaka University in Japan. Identification of these proteins, called chaperone proteins, may lead to new therapies for AD. Normal brain cells respond to various forms of stress by accumulating unfolded proteins, the so-called unfolded protein response (UPR), the authors explain. The increased level of unfolded proteins is then sensed by another protein, the enzyme IRE1, which turns on the production of chaperone proteins. These chaperone proteins foster the refolding of unfolded proteins to prevent the cell death that might otherwise occur. In one form of inherited AD, abnormalities in the presenilin-1 (PS1) gene result in changes in the UPR of brain cells. Unfolded proteins accumulate to abnormal levels, making them much more susceptible to cell death. These PS1 mutations result in much lower cell levels of the protective chaperone proteins. PS1 interacts directly with IRE1 to prevent activation of the chaperone proteins, thereby increasing the cell's susceptibility to stressful stimuli. The authors note that the levels of chaperone proteins were significantly decreased in the brains of patients with sporadic AD and even more markedly decreased in the brains of those with PS1-linked AD. The investigators propose that agents that increase the activity of IRE1 or otherwise work to increase the levels of chaperone proteins in the brains of patients with AD may help to treat this devastating disease. Reuters Health 11/4/99 Nature Cell Biology 1999;1:479-485.

Scientists Tally 1 Billion Pairs in Human Genome - Scientists reported 11/23/99 they have determined the exact order of 1 billion of the basic chemical building blocks of life, putting them one-third of the way in the massive push to sequence the whole human genome. The DNA is made up of four different chemicals, known as bases, that form the rungs of the ladder that is the DNA molecule. The bases -- identified by the letters A, C, G and T -- sit on the DNA ladder's steps in pairs, and there are thought to be about 3 billion steps in the ladder. In nature, A and T sit together and G and C sit together. A working draft of the human genome is expected to be complete in the first half of next year. Their findings are posted on the Internet at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/seq/ . By Deborah Zabarenko Reuters 11/23/99

Senate Designates January, 2000 as "National Biotechnology Month" - At the conclusion of the First Session of the 106th Congress, the United States Senate passed the S. RES. 200 RS resolution by unanimous consent, authorizing President Clinton to proclaim January 2000 as National Biotechnology Month. Among the whereas clauses of the resolution is: "Whereas biotechnology is central to research for cures to diseases such as cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, heart and lung disease, AD, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and innumerable other medical ailments." PR 11/22/99

Caregivers
Study Shows Elder Care Can Cut into Pay Raises, Promotions - Two-thirds of those acting as caregivers for elderly relatives lose out at work by forgoing promotions, pay raises and training opportunities, a new study suggests based on 55 people over the age of 45 who spent more than eight hours per week providing unpaid care. Among the 30 subjects who could provide detailed financial information, the average loss over a lifetime was $659,139 in wages, pension and Social Security benefits, according to results released 11/29/99. Previous studies have largely focused on what it would cost to replace a caregiver, not on losses suffered by the individual providing the care. The study shows that once a person has fallen off an earning trajectory, they don't tend to regain ground. From the time of retirement to when they die, caregivers will have fewer benefits. Twenty-nine percent said they had passed up a promotion or training assignment while 25 percent said they had refused a transfer because of their caregiver duties. A smaller percentage said they were not able to acquire new job skills or keep up with important advances in their fields. The impact of lost worker productivity due to elder care on corporate America is estimated at between $11 billion and $29 billion annually, said Sandra Timmermann, a gerontologist for New York-based Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., the study's sponsor. AP 11/28/99

Help at Hand for Caregivers - More and more books, hotlines, support groups and Web sites are available to provide help for people who are caring for their aging relatives, says Gail Hunt, director of the National Alliance for Caregiving in Bethesda, Maryland, a resource center for caregivers of older Americans. The National Eldercare Locator, a toll-free telephone service (1-800-677-1116) of the U.S. Administration on Aging helps caregivers find phone numbers for caregiving resources. Call local and national help lines. If your parent has AD, cancer or any of dozens of other conditions, a local or national group can usually provide help or information. The Eldercare Locator is a good source of those phone numbers, which also can be found by searching the Internet, checking with your doctor, or looking in the phone directory. Be wary of the web sites that supply incomplete information. Hunt recommends the Web sites of the AARP and the U.S. Administration on Aging, as well as those of nonprofit groups focusing on diseases like AD and cancer. Join a support group. Sometimes caregivers don't realize how many people share their challenges. Many hospitals, senior centers and local aging agencies host such groups. Read books. There are many out there. You might have to browse in the bookstore or library to find what best suits your needs. By John A Cutter WebMD 12/6/99

Testing
Plaque, the Hallmark of AD Is Revealed in Three Dimensions - For the first time, researchers at the Duke University Medical Center have been able to produce three-dimensional images of plaque, the blobs of "garbage" that clog the brains of AD patients. Previously, plaque could only be viewed after brain tissue was diced and sliced and put under a microscope. This milestone, made possible by marrying high-resolution magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) with powerful computers, is the first step toward non-invasive detection of plaques in AD. The scientists also say that, using the technique, it might be possible to watch the development of plaque as it occurs in transgenic mice altered to produce the substance in their brains. In this way, the effect of experimental drugs designed to treat AD can be tested as the disease progresses. "If you can visualize the plaque in vivo to see how its development relates to cognitive behavior, you can answer the question of cause and effect," said Dr. Helene Benveniste, the lead author on the published paper. MRM technology was designed by Duke researchers to create highly detailed images of tiny structures and specimens. The technique is a refined version of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used in hospitals, but is much more powerful, using higher magnetic fields to create superb resolution. The researchers do not plan to use the technique to confirm a diagnosis of AD in patients. "Current clinical magnetic resonance technology does not have the resolution to allow visualization of plaques inside the brain of a living human," Benveniste said. "This kind of detailed imaging is only possible in small animals." With the use of transgenic mice, they have moving closer to the goal of understanding the pathology of the disease. These mice contain a human gene known to produce excess amounts of plaque material in the brain and it offers a good animal model of how plaque may affect brain functioning. In what Benveniste describes as the "next generation of molecular biology," the researchers might be able to track, in living animal brains, the success of experimental drugs aimed at stopping the growth of plaques. "The dream of every brain researcher is to be able to follow, over time, both development of brain disease and the effects of drugs designed to combat them," she said. "If it works for this disease, it could work for other disorders and therapies." PR 11/22/99 Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences 1999;96:14079-84

Nymox Announces Third Quarter Results - In the third quarter, the 7C Gold development (Nymox's new test) was prioritized over marketing of AD7C™ (the predecessor of the 7C Gold test). The number of individual physicians who have independently contacted Nymox about their new simplified 7C Gold test, and who have voluntarily asked to be put on their contact list, is 31,365. They believe that once the 7C Gold kit is available, this will significantly impact potential sales. PR 11/15/99

Prevention
Estrogen May Help Against Early AD - Dutch researchers at Utrecht University reported 11/18 that the female hormone estrogen may help reduce the risk of AD in younger women with the early onset of the disease the before the age of 65. The study provides evidence that estrogens seem to have a protective effect and are also protective against this type of early onset disease, which is strongly genetically determined. The study had 109 women with AD and a control group of healthy women. The average age of both groups was 59. They found an association between estrogen use and lower AD in younger women, showing that use of the Pill use may be protective. In the future women who have a hereditary risk of AD may be advised to go on the Pill. It is likely that estrogen use also has a similar effect on men. The researchers said estrogen also seemed to have a beneficial role in preventing atherosclerosis, narrowing of the arteries, including arteries supplying the brain. They stressed that their research should be followed up by larger randomized studies. Reuters 11/18/99 Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 1999;67:779-781

Study of Beneficial Grape Compounds Intensifies in 1999 - Published research onresveratrol -- a phytonutrient found in fresh grapes -- has nearly tripled in the past two years, indicating strong interest in the health benefits of this compound. Resveratrol, found mainly in the skins of grapes, is noted for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and its potential to prevent cancer and heart disease. Among the newer research findings are the researchers at the University of Missouri who showed that resveratrol reduces oxidative stress in nerve cells, which may protect against age-related nerve changes such as those in AD. Researchers at the University of Milan are investigating additional protective effects of resveratrol on nerve cells. In addition to resveratrol, fresh grapes contain a variety of other phytonutrients, including quercetin, catechins, anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. All of these compounds are antioxidants, and are believed to protect living cells against damage by free radicals. The ravage of healthy cells by free radicals is considered a key factor in the body's overall aging process, including development of certain chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. PR from California Table Grape Commission 11/11/99

Only Three Quarters of Ginkgo Biloba Supplements Contain Proper Ingredients -- ConsumerLab.com Posts First of Its Dietary Supplement Product Tests - Gingko Biloba is one of the most widely used and best characterized herbal supplements. It is believed to be useful in increasing cognitive functions in elderly people, delaying the progression of AD, increasing blood flow to the legs, treating tinnitus (ringing in the ear) of a circulatory origin, treating depression and asthma, and as an antioxidant. Ginkgo used in clinical trials has generally been shown to contain specific amounts of several plant chemicals associated with its activity. An independent analysis of products conducted by ConsumerLab.com, a consumer information company found consumers have a one out of four chance of buying a Ginkgo Biloba product that may not deliver the ingredients they are seeking. There is no government monitoring of the manufacture of Ginkgo Biloba or other dietary supplements, and there have been reports of dietary supplements not containing their stated ingredients. Seven of the thirty products did not pass this testing. A list of those products that passed was posted 11/16/99 at http://www.consumerlab.com , including more details about the testing. PR 11/16/99

Other Items
AD and Age-related Vision Loss Linked - AD and a disease that causes vision loss, called age-related macular degeneration, may share common origins, according to scientists at the Erasmus University Medical School in Rotterdam. Age-related maculopathy (ARM) is an irreversible, incurable disease in which the retina of the eye breaks down. It is an important cause of vision loss among many elderly Americans, and affects about 8% of people over the age of 75 in the Netherlands. The researchers looked at the link between AD and ARM over a 4-year period in 1,438 adults over the age of 75. They found that patients with advanced ARM were more than twice as likely as others to develop AD. The association between the two diseases depends partly on smoking and (hardening of the arteries), which are important risk factors for both the researchers concluded. Reuthers Health 11/25/99 American Journal of Epidemiology 1999;150:963-968.

ADEAR's Connections Newsletter for Summer/Fall 1999 Available- The 12 page issue extensively discusses Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). There is also an article on measuring brain volume to diagnose MCI and AD. There are book reviews and a calendar of events. http://www.alzheimers.org/pubs/consum99.html

CSFluids Awarded Patent for Implant Procedure to Help Control Dementia In AD Patients - The company obtained US Patent No.5,980,480 (available online from the Patent Office at http://www.uspto.gov/patft/index.html ) entitled "Method and Apparatus for Treating Adult-Onset Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type." This patent is a broad-based method and medical device patent covering the use of shunts in the treatment of dementia suffered by patients with AD A shunt, similar to that used in the treatment of hydrocephalus, is inserted behind the ear just beneath the skin's surface into the fluid-filled ventricle of the brain. Production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), important for clearing toxins from the nervous system, decreases with age. Surgical placement of the shunt creates a new pathway to improve CSF flow. Dr. Edward Rubenstein, a co-inventor at Stanford University School of Medicine, said the newly-patented method, suggests that "Impaired clearance or diminished production of a CSF solute plays a part in the pathogenesis of age-related dementia." COGNIShunt, the product name of the device covered in CSFluid's patent, was designed specifically to improve CSF flow and clearance of toxic proteins from the nervous system. Placement of the shunt creates a new fluid pathway for CSF to flow away from the area around the brain and into the abdomen, draining the toxic substances thought to play a critical role in AD dementia. Clinical trials are now being conducted at three major medical centers to test the effectiveness of the shunt in persons with mild to moderate AD. Individuals interested in these studies should call 888-MY-MIND for more information. PR 11/11/98

Scientists Seek a Few Good Brains - Scientists need donations of brains for research if they are to understand and better fight AD, Lou Gehrig's, schizophrenia, manic-depression and a host of other brain diseases. Brain banks collect and carefully store donated brains, disseminating the tissue to different scientists who need it. The Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass., is the world's largest brain bank, receiving about 350 brains a year. Families can get more information at 1-800-BRAINBANK. The National Institute of Mental Health's neuropathology division runs a brain bank in Bethesda, Md. Numerous academic medical centers, like the University of Miami and University of Maryland, also run brain banks - experts suggest calling large universities to find one. The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill also can help; check http://www.nami.org on the internet. Make sure your relatives know if you want to donate your brain to science. That helps next-of-kin make the final decision, and can decrease delays - banks should receive donated brains within 24 hours of death, before the tissue breaks down. The down side of brain donation is that some hospitals - not all - do charge families pathology fees of up to $300. Some brain banks may be able to help. By Lauran Neergaard AP Medical Writer

Elan to Buy Two Affiliates - Irish pharmaceutical maker Elan Corp. will buy two affiliated companies -- Axogen Ltd., a maker of neurological and pain management products, and Neuralab Ltd, which develops products for treating AD. Neuralab was formed in August 1997 to fund a research and development program to identify therapeutic compounds for use in the treatment of AD. PR 11/29/99

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